Things To Do
Anderson Point Park
Drive Time from Port Orchard: 12 minutes This is where we got engaged! Its also a favorite spot for us to take Parker for a nice frolic on the beach. Fair warning: its a steep, paved walk to get down to the beach and back up to your car.
Banner Forest Heritage Park
Drive Time from Port Orchard: 5 minutes This is one of our favorite spots to take a late afternoon stroll with Parker. With many of well-marked trails for both foot traffic and bikes, you are sure to have a wonderful stroll marveling at the mossy bows below the towering evergreens. You will often find folks foraging for mushroom and exploring the woods.
7 Seas Brewing
Drive Time from Port Orchard: 25 minutes This is a sweet spot to grab a brew and take in the gorgeous views of The Sound. Make it a trip and walk around downtown Gig Harbor while you're at it!
Damn Fine Pizza
Located in Port Orchard! This is probably our favorite place to go grab a slice. Complete with arcade, you are sure to have a blast here with a beautiful view on Port Orchard's waterfront.
Oscar - The Bird King
Distance from Port Orchard: 20 minutes ferry + 20 minutes drive time Looking for an adventure? We'd recommend taking the Southworth Ferry to Vashon Island for the day. You're sure to have a lovely time visiting the island's quaint stores and soaking in the unique island community's charm. Be sure to stop and visit one of the six Northwest's trolls, Oscar the Bird King.
Manchester State Park
Drive Time from Port Orchard: 15 minutes Manchester State Park, located on the Kitsap Peninsula, offers a serene escape with its picturesque views of the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. This scenic park features a peaceful beach perfect for picnicking and beachcombing, as well as miles of scenic trails winding through lush forests. History buffs can explore the remnants of a World War II naval base, adding a unique historical touch to your visit. With its tranquil setting and natural beauty, Manchester State Park is an ideal spot for outdoor activities, relaxing by the water, and enjoying the stunning Pacific Northwest landscape.
Gig Harbor
Drive Time from Port Orchard: 20 minutes Just a short drive from your hotels, Gig Harbor is a delightful waterfront town brimming with maritime charm. Stroll along the picturesque harbor, browse through unique shops and art galleries, or savor fresh seafood at cozy waterfront restaurants. Discover the town's maritime history at the Harbor History Museum or enjoy the great outdoors on nearby trails and parks. With its stunning bay views and inviting atmosphere, Gig Harbor is the perfect nearby destination for relaxation and exploration during your stay.
Poulsbo
Drive Time from Port Orchard: 40 minutes Known as “Little Norway,” Poulsbo is a charming waterfront town nestled along Liberty Bay. With its Scandinavian heritage, you'll find vibrant, colorful buildings, unique boutiques, and cozy cafés lining the streets. Visitors can stroll along the waterfront, explore the bustling marina, and sample local cuisine, including delicious pastries from the famous Sluys Bakery. Nature lovers will enjoy nearby hiking trails, kayaking opportunities, and views of the majestic Olympic Mountains. Poulsbo offers a perfect blend of cultural charm, outdoor adventure, and small-town hospitality, making it a must-visit destination.
Point Defiance Park
Drive Time from Port Orchard: 30 minutes Point Defiance, located on the edge of Tacoma, offers a diverse range of attractions within its scenic 760-acre park. Visitors can explore the lush trails of Point Defiance Park, which include forested paths and stunning waterfront views. The park is home to the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, where you can encounter a variety of animals and marine life. Don't miss the beautiful gardens, including the serene Japanese Garden and vibrant Rose Garden. With its combination of natural beauty, family-friendly attractions, and stunning vistas, Point Defiance is a must-visit destination for a day of exploration and relaxation.
Gold Creek Trailhead, Green Mountain
Drive Time from Port Orchard: 30 minutes Green Mountain / Gold Creek Trail is a nice light hike with views of the Olympics and the Sound.
Salmon Cascades
Drive Time from Port Orchard: 2 hrs 30 minutes Visiting Olympic National Park? 5 miles (8 km) up the Sol Duc road, stop by this viewing platform to witness the iconic leap of determined fish up a waterfall on their way to spawn. The view of the cascades is lovely year-round, but if you hope to see fish, look for Coho salmon in September and October.
Olympic National Park
Drive Time from Port Orchard: 1-5 hours depending on where you go! With its incredible range of precipitation and elevation, diversity is the hallmark of Olympic National Park. Encompassing nearly a million acres, the park protects a vast wilderness, thousands of years of human history, and several distinctly different ecosystems, including glacier-capped mountains, old-growth temperate rain forests, and over 70 miles of wild coastline. Olympic National Park is huge and beautiful. While you can't drive through the park itself, you can drive the road circumnavigating the park. There are many notable stops to take including Hurricane Ridge, Hoh Rainforest, Lake Crescent, and much more! We love to backpack in the Olympics, and snowshoe at Hurricane Ridge in the winter. A must see!
Pike Place Market
Drive Time from Port Orchard: 1 hour 15 minutes Ferry Ride from Bremerton: 1 hour The Pike Place Market has been a defining Seattle icon for more than a century. Considered by many “the soul of Seattle,” the Market spans nine historic acres in the center of downtown where everyday locals and tourists alike shop, visit, eat and discover.
Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour
Drive Time from Port Orchard: 1 hour 15 minutes Ferry Ride from Bremerton: 1 hour + short walk The underground tour is Seattle’s most unusual attraction, a humorous stroll through intriguing subterranean storefronts and sidewalks entombed when the city rebuilt on top of itself after the Great Fire of 1889. The 75-minute guided walking tour begins beneath Doc Maynard’s Public House, then spills into historic Pioneer Square, Seattle’s birthplace, before plunging underground for an exclusive, time-capsule view of the buried city.!
Port Townsend
Drive Time from Port Orchard: 1 hour 30 minutes We love visiting Port Townsend. Port Townsend is steeped in arts and culture, fascinating history, and outdoor adventure. A historic seaport with an artistic soul, come experience world-class restaurants, beaches, festivals, and dark skies. If looking for a small adventure, venture out to Glass Beach: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/north-beach-park-to-glass-beach
Hama Hama Oyster Saloon
Drive Time from Port Orchard: 1 hour 15 minutes Love oysters? This is a cool spot to stop on the Hood Canal. If you venture this far, be sure to stop off and go for a hike in Olympic National Forest before taking a break here to down some oysters and sick views. You might just see some Bald Eagles feasting on spawning salmonids.
Marmot Pass Trailhead
Drive Time from Port Orchard: 1 hour 45 minutes Marmot Pass offers great views and a gentle hike through old-growth forest as well as high meadows.
Duckabush River Trail
Drive Time from Port Orchard: 1 hour 30 minutes We love the Duckabush River Trail! Start with a couple miles of gentle up-and-down, through forest coated with thick mosses, with glimpses of a crashing river that’s an ethereal shade of blue-green. Then begin steadily climbing up switchbacks, the beginning of your journey through an aging forest fire, and on to views of a verdant river valley rolling out at your feet.
Mount Rainier National Park
Drive Time from Port Orchard: 1 hour 45 minutes Ascending to 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.A., spawning five major rivers. Subalpine wildflower meadows ring the icy volcano while ancient forest cloaks Mount Rainier’s lower slopes. Wildlife abounds in the park’s ecosystems.
Burroughs Mountain Trail
Drive Time from Port Orchard: 2 hours 30 minutes Visiting Mount Rainier during your stay? Check out Burroughs Mountain trail! At over 7800 feet, Burroughs Mountain sets right up against the northeastern face of Mount Rainier, hugging the Winthrop Glacier. It offers one of the most dramatic views of Washington's largest volcano; the landscape atop Burroughs is both broad and barren, so there is little to inhibit full exposure.
North Cascades National Park
Drive Time from Port Orchard: 3 hours 30 minutes An alpine landscape beckons! Discover communities of life adapted to moisture in the west and recurring fire in the east. Explore jagged peaks crowned by more than 300 glaciers. Listen to cascading waters in forested valleys. Go see the larches in the North Cascades this time of year. Visitors flock to see the larches (tamarack trees) change from green to a golden yellow. There are so many beautiful hikes to take in these beauties.